We Don’t Need No Library Fiction?

The Herald Scotland article will stay with me for a while. Following on from Deary, the writer questions the need for fiction books in libraries and questions what the point of stocking them is. For myself, I have always seen fiction as the sneaky way to improve people’s brains – one might be enjoying it but one is also learning spelling, grammar, incidental facts, all sorts of things at the same time. Fiction sucks (or suckers) the child into having a joy of reading and thus literacy and a degree and a good job. Fiction, also, saves those on the edges (and perhaps not just the edges) of society from madness, tedium or loneliness. To fail to understand the need for fiction in libraries shows a failure to understand its underlying benefits that bodes ill for the debate and for the failure of libraries (probably through no fault of their own – this should have been done nationally, for years) to explain their mission.

On the plus side, props to Devon for asking the public what it wants from a refurbishment of Sidmouth Library and, similarly, Los Angeles for asking the public what it wants from its libraries generally. The user needs to be fundamentally involved in the provision of services, most especially in any changes, and it’s great to see this being done.

Change is essential if libraries want to survive – Herald Scotland. “going into a library now is like going into HMV or Woolies just before it closed. It is a model that is confused and unclear; it no longer knows why it is there. And as for free downloadable books in libraries: like Kindles in Waterstones, that is like inviting a pussy cat into an aviary – the route to certain destruction from within.”. The leisure use of fiction, not learning, is the main purpose of public libraries.

“the discussion of the future of these institutions should be based on what they are, not on what supporters think they are. … [There] should be an end to the lending of fiction on the basis that public subsidy should be for the public good, not for whiling away a few hours with a cheap thriller. As for the other peripheral issues the pro-library campaign sometimes raise, such as access to the internet or literacy, there are more effective ways of dealing with these issues than paying for big buildings that cost big money to run.”

International radio star - Litopia / Library Campaign. Alan Gibbons and Library Campaign interviewed about what they think of Deary’s comments on an internet radio star. A wide ranging debate that lasts 45 minutes pitting two pro-library campaigners against two agnostics. Recommended. Need for libraries as a “safe place to go” comes across strongly as is the idea of it being a safety net, available for all.

“the repository is a logical extension to the role of a library. What ebooks have done for texts, 3D models will do for physical objects. In a digital form, they will be archived, shared and preserved. “You don’t know, a thousand years from now, how many of these objects will still be around,” he says. “These digital files might stand the test of time.” Michael Groenendyk finds a new use for 3D printers in libraries

Making libraries history is a horrible idea – Guardian / Letters. More reaction to Deary: “Does he also believe the concept of a shared social fabric is outdated? Deary has mined a rich – and lucrative – seam in amusing millions of young readers with his tales of how disgusting, brutish and selfish we human beings have been across the ages. True enough. But the public funding of libraries, with access for everyone, reflects our imagination and striving to be better than brutes.” Beverley Naidoo.

“The message to community groups is clear. If you are at all worried about a local asset – whether a library or anything else – then don’t delay, apply to list it under the assets of community value legislation, to confer such protection it affords. Don’t wait, or it might just be too late.”

Brighton -Crime writer makes plea to keep Brighton and Hove mobile library – Argus. “Sussex-based crime author Peter James has called on town hall bosses to find the five-figure sum a year to keep it running three days a week.” … “after no voluntary groups came forward to help with running costs, the council proposed to replace it with a personalised door-to-door delivery service.”

Newcastle – Lee Hall slams Newcastle Council’s failure to save the arts – Journal. “Playwright Lee Hall has said Newcastle Council’s revised £100m cuts package does not go far enough in attempts to offset the budget blow facing organisations across the city.” … “Two out of 10 closure-threatened libraries will be saved, with another three likely to be taken over by community groups”

This entry was posted by Ian Anstice on February 18, 2013 at 10:58 pm, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Re. Herald Scotland article, “writer questions the need for fiction books in libraries,” we learn (as teachers will quite happily enumerate for you) in many ways – stories are much more important to our culture than we mostly imagine.

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Since 1st April 2014: 260 static libraries have been put under threat of closure/passing to volunteers. 9 mobile libraries under threat. 1 new library opened. 4 refurbishments over £50k, 11 libraries (3 static and 8 mobile) libraries closed, 9 libraries passed to volunteers. 1 entirely new volunteer-run library. Please note that the number under threat does not normally correspond with the number eventually closed.
There are currently 4145 libraries in the UK. There were 4482 in 2009/10 and 4622 in 2003/4.
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